Gripper.



0. ASHTON.

GRIPPER.

APPLICATION FILED um: 25. I910.

Patented Apr. 2'7, 1915.

THE N R15 PErERS (10.. PHO1D-LITHOA. WASIINGI'DN. c

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ORRELL ASHTON, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATER-SON, NEVJ JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

GRIPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

0rig'ina1 application filed November 10, 1909, Serial No. 527,210.Divided and this application filed June T all whom itpnay concern Be itknown that I, ORRELL ASHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing atSwampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain Improvements in Grippers, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating likeparts in the several fig ures.

This invention relates to machines for use in working an upper over alast and particularly to gripper mechanism for use in pulling-over andlasting machines.

This present application is a division of an application Serial No.527,210 filed by me November 10, 1909.

A very important feature of this invention relates to the toe grippingand pulling means. Under the preferred embodiment this feature comprisesa toe gripper having sectional aws which are independently mounted toturn about axes located over the curved corners of the toe, and are alsomounted for turning movement together about a central axis. By thisarrangement for turning, the toe gripper sections can each be moved oradjusted longitudinally and transversely of the shoe for adaptation tovarying shapes and positions of lasts. The grippers are preferably ofthe curved jaw type and mounted and arranged so that the shoe can bepresented with its toe-end within and against the inner side of thecurved jaws and the jaws thereby adjusted to the shape of eachparticular last that is presented to the machine. The jaws of the toegripper are also preferably formed with outwardly inclined grippingfaces ar ranged to take, in its normal, outwardly flared position, theupper of the toe portion of a shoe. A very simple and effective mountingof the toe gripper is provided by which a strong and durableconstruction is obtained and in these characteristics of the toegrippers are to be found features of this invention.

Another feature of this invention consists in arranging the toe and sidegrippers for movement together in the direction of the edge of the upperfor shifting the upper about the last longitudinally. In the illustratedarrangement the sidegrippers are Serial No. 568,918.

free to move longitudinally of the last and the toe gripper is moved foradjusting the upper edgewise. By this arrangement the entire forwardportion of the upper can be adjusted in the direction of its edge aroundthe last by moving the toe gripper, which may be provided with suitablemeans for that purpose. The side and toe grippers may be connected toinsure edgewise movement together and permit relative upper pullingmovements, and means is advantageously provided for reguiding theconnected grippers to normal position at the end of each operation ofthe machine. The described arrangement in which the side grippers arefree to move edgewisepermits them to respond to the forward pull of thetoe gripper which may be applied to draw the upper forwardly on thelast. It enables the side grippers to come forwardly with the upper andif a connection between the toe and side grippers is employed the sidegrippers are compelled to come forwardly with the toe gripper andedgewise straining of the upper between the side and toe grippers, whichis the region of the toe tip seam, is avoided.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper pulling and the last restingand depressing means; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the grippers; Fig.3 shows one pair of the sectional jaws; Fig. 4- is a bottom view of thetoe grippers; Fig. 5 is a detail. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 ofFig. 2.

The machine in its general organization resembles that shown in anapplication for Letters Patent of the United States. Serial No. 375.669,filed May 25, 1907 by Ronald F. McFeely.

The side grippers 8 and 9 and the toe gripper are actuated from cams onthe main cam shaft. not shown, through yielding connections 11, 12 withthe updraw levers 14:, 15 from near the front ends of which the grippersare suspended by ioints permitt ng freedom of movement to the grippers.The levers are extended forwardly to provide handles by which theoperator can manipulate the grippers to increase or diminsh thestretching of the upper or to shift the upper. The toe gripper lever 15has, in addition to its handle. a lever 16 connected by a slide 17 withthe jaw closing mechanism to enable the operator conveniently to ing achamber for a spring 24 and recesses for two rotatable stems 25 on eachof which is formed a fixed gripper jaw 26. The movable gripper jaw 28 ispivoted to the outer side of the fixed jaw at 29 and has an eye toembrace the stem 25. The inner side of the'eye interlocks with a notcheddepending extension of a sleeve 30, Fig. 3. The sleeves 30 have notchesin their adjacent sides into which fits a disk or plate 32 having acentral oblong slot to receive the 'T-head 33 of the toe gripper closingand uplifting bar and safely interlock therewith when the bar and block22 are relatively rotated to their normal position. Pins 21 carried on aspring plate 23 extend through the walls of the block 22 into annulargrooves in the heads of the stems 25. This connection of the stems withthe block 22 and the connection of the sleeves 30 with the bar 10permits free turning movement of one pair of gripper jaws or grippersection relatively to the other pair or section, so that the twosections can freely conform to the width and shape of the toe portion ofthe last over which the upper is being pulled. The block 22 is alsorotatable upon the bar 10, preferably through a limited angle, so thatthe gripper sections can not only adjust themselves about the axes oftheir respective stems, but they can move together about the axis of thebar 10. By these arrangements for turning movements, each grippersection can be displaced, within limits, both longitudinally andtransversely of the shoe for adaptation to the shape and position of thelast and also for effecting adjustment of the upper upon the last. Thislatter'use 'is'provided for by applying a hand bar 35 to the block 22.

The side grippers 8 and 9, which may be of known construction, aresuspended by ball joints from their levers 14 and are guided with thenarrow body portion of their blocks 40 within relatively wide ways inthe head so that they are free to move with the upper when the upper isadjusted around the toe by the rotation of the toe gripper block 22.upper by means of the toe gripper, with the side grippers free to movewith the upper, is found very satisfactory for tip line positioning. Tipline positioning may involve adjustment of the tip line or seamangularly with relation to the medianline of the last and this iseffected by the angular movement of the toe gripper by the hand bar 35as described. Tip positioning also involves adjustment longitudinally ofthe shoe for obtaining correct and uniform about the heel end of thelast.

This adjustment of the length of tips. This is obtained in the pres entmachine by manually increasing or diminishing the pull of the toegripper by the use of the handle on lever 15. By reason of the fact thatthe illustrated curved toe grippers engage the upper at the sides, aswell as at the end of the toe, they do not tend to how the tip seam andas the side grippers move'freely lengthwise .of the last they offer noretardation tending to cause the tip seam to be bowed when the upper ispulled upon by the toe gripper.

Very effective stretching of the upper lengthwise of the last, andconformation of the upper to the contour of the heel portion and sidefaces of the last, is obtained in this machine by the use of the widecurved grippers having engagement with the entire toe portion of theupper at the sides and end so that a lengthwise pulling is effectedthroughout the breadth of the upper. This thoroughly tensions the vampand quarter seam along the sides of the last, as well as the sidemargins of the vamp, without excessively straining the vamp along itsmedian line and at the throat. This result is appreciatedin making lowcut shoes, the upper edges of which should snugly hug the last and thewearers foot in order to retain their shape and be comfortable. Thefreedom ofmovement of the side grippers of course contributes to thissuccessful use of the toe gripper. It should be noted that the last isheld from novement by the sole rest 4: while all the toe and sidegrippers can be moved together to draw the entire upper forwardly andtighten it The side grippers. have on the front and rear faces of theirblocks 40 opposed inclines 4.2 which seat in corresponding inclines inthe head when the grippers are restored to shoe receiving position.These inclines reguide the side grippers always to a normal grippingposition longitudinally of the shoe, no matter to what position they mayhave been displaced during the operation on the last s oe.

The bar 35, together with the plate 23, is fastened by a single screw36, see Fig. 4:. By loosening the screw, the plate and the hand bar maybe turned to uncover the pins 21 and permit them to be taken out of thevary from childrens to womens, for QX ample. The plate 23 appliessuflicient friction through the pins to the stems 25 to prevent themfrom undesirable loose movement. It will be noted that the jaws 26 and28 are so formed and arranged that their gripping faces are at a smallangle to the plane of the last bottom by reason of which they areadapted to receive the upper of the forward portion of the shoe in itsnormal, outwardly flared position. This enables initial folds or puckersin the upper to be avoided and permits the upper to be stretchedsmoothly over the entire end portion of the last and produce a smoothedged toe, as shown in Fig. 2. The toe and side grippers may, ifdesired, be connected as shown in Fig. 2, by cylindrical pins 43, 14:arranged to'move endwise and turn freely in guideways on the side andfront pincers, respectively, and connected together by transverse pins,as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5, to permit relative angular movement ofthe toe and side grippers.

In the use of the machine, an assembled shoe, comprising the last,innersole and upper materials is presented to the machine in therelation shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The marginal portion of the upperstanding in its normal, outwardly flared position at the toe end of theshoe is readily inserted into the jaws of the toe gripper which areformed to receive the upper without necessarily bending or deflecting itfrom its normal position. The upper at the sides of the shoe normallystands in a substantially upright position and readily finds itsposition between the jaws on the side grippers. The bottom restdetermines the vertical position of the shoe in the machine and the toegripper may form the means for positioning the shoe lengthwise andlaterally. For this purpose the shoe may be presented with its toe endagainst and laterally centered in the curved toe grippers. This step ofpositioning the shoe with relation to the toe grippers has the addedadvantage that the swinging sections of the grippers are automaticallypositioned relatively by engagement of the shoe therewith intoaccordance with the contour of the particular shoe which is to beoperated upon. The formation of the inner sides of the gripper sectionsto facilitate this relative positioning of shoe and toe grippers is wellillustrated in Fig. 4. With the work thus presented, the machine isstarted and caused to close and uplift the grippers for putting theupper under tension and then come to rest. The shoe now stands beforethe operator in a position inclined forwardly and upwardly so that hecan examine the upper and determine what, if any, readjustments,additional pulling, and drafting may be required for fitting the shoeproperly to the contour of the particular last over which it is beingmade. If the tip line does not bear the desired angular relation to thelength of the last, it is corrected or straightened by turning the toegripper by means of the hand bar 35 on the toe gripper block. The sidegrippers, by reason of the fact that they are free to move forwardly andbackwardly, ofi'er substantially no resistance to this tip straighteningmovement by the toe grippers for they can follow the adjacent edge ofthe upper in its forward and backward movement. If the toe and sidegrippers are connected, as shown in Fig. 2, this following or the toegrippers by the side grippers is mechanically insured, and the tipstraightening is accomplished by stretching the upper on one side of theshoe between the rear end of the side gripper and the heel and relaxingit on the other side of the shoe. This has the advantage that the upperis not stretched lengthwise or distorted in any way between the toegrippers and the side grippers in the tip straightening operation.Instead thereof, the entire forward portion of the upper from the rearend of one side gripper to the rear end of the other is adjustededgewise around the last. If the tip line is not in the rightlongitudinal position, or, as it is expressed, if the tip line is not ofthe right length, the upper may be pulled farther forward by upliftingthe toe gripper by means of the handle on its lever 15. While the sidegrippers are free to swing forwardly during this forward straining ofthe upper by the toe gripper, the side grippers may advantageously bedepressed to relax the tension on the upper during this forwardstraining. This can easily be done by the operator grasping the two sidelevers with his two hands and pulling them downwardly and pressingupwardly with one or both thumbs upon the handle of the toe gripperlever. For this purpose the three gripper levers 14K, 15, 14 arearranged close enough together to enable them to be readily grasped asdescribed. If it is desired to adjust the upper transversely of the ballof the last, this is done by uplifting one side gripper and lowering theother, and both side grippers may be uplifted for additionallystretching the upper transversely of the last.

If during the inspection and manipulation of the shoe it is discoveredthat the upper has been pulled too far forwardly, the toe grippers canbe caused to release or slacken their hold upon the upper enough to letit slip backwardly and react under its tension. This is done byuplifting the little lever 16 and drawing upwardly upon the block 22 andthe gripper stems This has the effect of raising the ripper stems andthe gripper aws 26 with relation to the other jaws and sleeves 30 whichare held down by the connection of the sleeve with the bar 10. Theincline on the back of the toe gripper bar 10 holds the gripper normallyforward at the time of gripping and during the initial pulling so thatthe stretching upper is held out of contact with the edge of theinnersole to avoid lifting it. As the updraw proceeds, the inclineallows the grippers to move inwardly for wrapping the upper over theedge of the shoe bottom so that the grippers may reach a positionsubstantially like that shown in Fig. 1 when the machine stops.

Having explained the nature of this in vention and described a preferredconstruction embodying the same, I claim as new'and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States Y 1. A pulling-over machine, havingin combination with suitable actuating mechanism, a toe grippercomprising sectional jaws mounted for turning movement independentlyabout axes located over the curved corners of the shoe toe and also formovement together about a central axis.

2. In a pulling-over machine, a gripper comprising a stem formed with ajaw having its gripping face oblique to the axis of the stem, acooperating jaw pivoted at one side of the stem and provided with aclosing arm embracing said stem, a sleeve mounted upon said stem andengaging said arm, and means for actuating the sleeve to operate theaws.

3. In a pulling-over machine, a gripper comprising a block, a stemrotatable in the block and having a jaw, a second jaw pivotallyconnected to the first, and an operating device for both closing anduplifting the jaws, arranged to permit rotation of the gripperon theaxis of the stem.

4;.,In a pulling-over machine, a gripper bar, a block rotatable thereon,two stems 'rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the axis of the'block,jaws formed on the stems, cooperating jaws pivotally connected with saidstems, and means for simultaneously closing said cooperating jawsarranged to permit free rotation of the pairs of jaws independently.

5. In a pulling-over machine, a gripper bar, a block rotatable thereon,two stems rotatably mounted in the block on opposite sides of the axisthereof, jaws formed on the stems, cooperating jaws pivotally connectedwith said stems, means for simultaneously closing said cooperating jawsarranged to permit rotation of the pairs of jaws independently, andmeans for turning the block.

'6. A pulling-over machine, having in combination with suitableactuating mechanism, a curved toe gripper formed in sections which arefreely movable relatively and are arranged to permit the last to bepositioned with its toe end within and against the curved gripper and tohave its sections positioned relatively in accordance with the shape ofthe last by such presentation of the shoe.

7 In a machine of theclass described, a toe gripper comprising a blockor carrier that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and pairs ofjaws mounted in the carrier for rotation independently about axeslocated over the curved corners of the shoe toe and at opposite sides ofthe axis of rotation of the carrier.

8. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper comprising acarrier, and pairs of gripper jaws mounted for rotation inde-" pendentlyof one another aboutaxes located at opposite sides of the center of thetoe, said pairs of jaws being adapted to be positioned relatively inaccordance with the shape of the toe portion of thelast by thepresentation of the last against their inner sides.

9. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising the two jaws 26 supported for turning movement about parallelaxes perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom to adapt them to bepositioned in accordance with the shape of the toe portion of'the lastpresented in contact with them, and cooperating jaws 28 pivotallyconnected with the jaws 26 for opening and closing movement and arrangedto turn with the jaws 26.

10. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising a carrier, two pairs of jaws mounted to turn independently onparallel axes for adapting their relative positions to the curvedcontour of the toe portion of the last, and one means for restrainingboth of said pairs of jaws from loose rotation.

11. In a machine of the class described, a toe'gripper mechanismcomprising a carrier, two pairs of jaws mounted to turn independently onparallel axes for adapting their relative positions to the curvedcontour of the toe portion of the last presented with its toe endagainst them, and friction means comprising a spring plate on thecarrier and pins forced thereby into position for maintaining the pairsof jaws in the'relative position to which they are moved by the last.

12. In a machine of the class described, a toe end gripper mechanismproviding a carrier, pairs of gripping jaws mounted in said carrier forturning movement about parallel axes to adapt their position to thewidth of the last, and means for retaining said pairs of jaws in thecarrier constructed and arranged to permit ready removal thereof and thesubstitution therefor of other pairs of jaws adapted to different shapesof lasts.

13. In a machine of the class described, a I

toe gripper mechanism comprising a carrler, pairs of gripping awsmounted 1n said n carrier for turmng movement about parallel axes to.adapt their position to the width of the last, and an operating barconnected with said pairs of jaws and adapted for disconnectiontherefrom when the carrier and said bar are relatively rotated through90.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a carrier,of two pairs of jaws mounted therein and having the operating members30, the slotted disk 32 engaging both of said members, and the operatingbar 10 having the T-head 33 engaging the said slotted disk and adaptedfor disengagement therefrom when said disk and bar are relativelyrotated through 90.

15. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising a carrier, pairs of gripper jaws arranged for free turningmovement in the carrier about parallel axes substantially perpendicularto the plane of the shoe bottom, and means for effecting turningmovement of the carrier about an axis intermediate the axes of the pairsof jaws whereby said pairs of jaws are relatively moved in oppositedirections.

16. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising a carrier mounted for turning movement about an axissubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the last bottom, and pairsof jaws mounted in said carrier at opposite lateral sides of said axis,said carrier being free to turn about its axis in response to pressureof the shoe against the jaws for adapting the position of the pairs ofjaws to the contour of the toe portion of the shoe.

17. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising a carrier mounted for turning movement about an axissubstantially perpendicular to, the plane of the last bottom, pairs ofjaws mounted in said carrier at opposite lateral sides of said axis, andmeans for turning said carrier about said axis whereby one pair of jawsis moved backwardly and the other pair forwardly for shifting the upperat the toe portion of the last.

18. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper comprising thetransversely curved jaw 26 the face of which adjacent to the last isslanted upwardly and outwardly to adapt said jaw to fit the toe end ofthe last between the last and the upper for seizing short uppers, andthe cooperating jaw 28.

19. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising relatively movable pairs of jaws arranged to engage an upperat opposite sides of the toe, said pairs of jaws being supported formovement edgewise together for shifting the upper about the end portionof the last.

20. In a machine of the class described, a toe gripper mechanismcomprising relatively movable pairs of jaws, and means connected withsaid pairs of jaws for effecting edgewise movement thereof to shift theupper around the toe portion of the last.

21. In a machine of the class described, an end gripper mechanismcomprising connected pairs of jaws for engaging the opposite sides andtoe end of a shoe and supported for movement together edgewise about thetoe end of the last to position the gripped upper.

22. In a machine of the class described, an end gripper mechanismcomprising connected pairs of jaws for engaging the opposite sides andtoe end of a shoe, and means for moving said pairs of jaws edgewiseabout the toe portion of the last.

28. In a machine of the class described, an end gripper mechanismcomprising pairs of jaws arranged to engage an upper at the oppositesides and at the toe end of a shoe and connected together to permitrelative vertical movement of the side and the toe end jaws and toprovide for movement of all of said jaws together edgewise.

24. In a machine of the class described, an end gripper mechanismcomprising pairs of jaws arranged to engage an upper at the oppositesides and the toe end of a shoe and connected together to permit freerelative in and out movement of said side and end gripper jaws parallelwith the plane of the last bottom and to compel movement of said jawstogether edgewise.

25. In a machine of the class described, toe gripperscomprising aplurality of adj acent pairs of aws mounted for free turning movement topermit them to adapt their positions relatively to the curved contour ofthe toe end portion of a last presented against the inner faces of thegrippers, and guiding means restraining the grippersfrom loose forwardand backward movement while they are in work receiving position wherebythey may serve as a positioning abutment for the toe end of the last.

26. In a machine of the class described, toe grippers comprising aplurality of adjacent pairs of jaws mounted for turning movement topermit them to adapt their positions relatively to the contour of thetoe portion of a last presented against the inner faces of the grippers,said jaws being formed with outwardly inclined gripping faces extendingin a substantially continuous series of connected lines around the toeof the last and arranged to take, in its normal outwardly flaredposition, the upper of the forward portion of the shoe.

27. In a machine of the class described, grippers for engaging the toeand for engaging the opposite sides of the forepart of the upper of ashoe, means permitting rotation of the toe gripper, and means for movingeach of the side grippers independently in directions at right anglestov the plane of the last bottom.

28. In a machine of the class described, palrs of toe jaws, meanspermitting rotation IOU I a direction substantially perpendicular to ofsaid jaws on axes passing therethrough and revolution about an axislying between them, pairs of jaws for gripping each side of the forepartof an upper, and means for moving all the jaws along the periphery ofthe last bottom.

29. In a machine of the class described, pairs of toe jaws, meanspermitting rotation of said jaws on axes passing through them andpermitting revolution about an axis lying between them, pairs of jawsfor gripping each side of the forepart of an upper, and means for movingall the jaws along the periphery of the last bottom simultaneously.

30. In amachine of the class described, the combination of a grippermounted for updraw and'overdraw movement and composed of a plurality ofsections, each section mounted for rotation about an axis passingthrough the jaws, the gripper as a whole being mounted for revolutionabout an axis lying between its sections, and side grippers, each havinga'plurality of sections, adapted to engage the oppositeside of theforepart of a shoe upper, said grippers being arranged for updrawmovement and for rotation about axes lying between the sections.

31. In a machine of the class described, a sectional toe gripper, theparts thereof being arranged to rotate independently, sectional sidegrippers for engaging the forepart of a shoe upper, each of saidgrippers being mounted for rotation about an axis lying between itssections, and means whereby the grippers may be moved along theperiphery of the last bottom simultaneously.

32. In a machine of the class described, grippers for engaging the toeand for engaging the opposite sides of the forepart of the upper ofa'shoe, means permitting rotation of the toe gripper, means for movingeach of the side grippers independently in directions at right angles tothe plane'of the last bottom, and means for movingall of the gripperstogether in a plane parallel with the last bottom.

33. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, toe gripper mechanismcomprising a pluralityof pairs of closely adjacent :jaws having grippingfaces formed and arranged to receive a substantially continuous sectionof upper extending from one'side of the shoe around the toe to the otherside in its normal outwardly flared position on the forward portion ofthe last, means for relatively moving said jaws and the last in v theplane of the last bottom for pulling the upper, and side grippersarranged to receive the upper at the sides of the last in its normalupstanding position.

34. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, grippers to engage anupper at the end and opposite sides of the forward portion of a last,and means by which all said grippers can be moved together in asingle'operation lengthwise of the portions of the edge of the lastadjacent to the grippers.

35. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, grippers to engage anupper at the end and opposite sides of the forward portion of a last,and means connected to one of said grippers by which it can be moved toadjust the upper lengthwise of the adjacent portion of the edge of thelast, said other grippers being mounted to move edgewise of the upperwith the gripper that is directly actuated. j

36. A pulling-over machine, having in combination,toe and side grippers,and actuating means connected with the toe gripper to move it foradjusting the upper edgewise relatively to the last, theside grippersbeing mounted for free movements edgewise of the upper with the toegripper.

37. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, toe and sidegrippers, and actuating means connected with one of said grippers tomove it for adjusting the upper edgewise relatively to the last, andconnections between said actuated gripper and theother grippers arrangedto cause all the grippers to move together.

38. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, toe grippers, sidegrippers, a connection between the toe grippers and one pair of sidegrippers arranged to 'compe'l them to move edgewise together,andadjusting means for moving said'connected grippers. V V

39. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, toe grippers, sidegrippers, means connected to the toe grippers to move it for adjustingthe upper edgewise about the last, and guiding means for the sidegrippers arranged to permit them to follow the toe grippers freely insaid adjust-ing movements.

40. A pulling-over machine, having'in' combination, a toe gripper, sidegrippers, means whereby said grippers may be moved to adjust the upperedgewise around the toe of the last while 'all the grippers maintaintheir hold on the upper, and means associated with the grippers forreguiding all the. grippers to normal positionafter the upper isreleased. 7

451. A pulling-over 'machine, having in combination, toe and sidegrippers, actuating means for said grippers, and .connec tions betweensaid toe and side grippers a'rranged to permit 'the's'ide grippers to bedepressed after pulling, and to permit the upper, together withthe-side-grippers, to be toe grippers. V a

42. A pullingover machine, having in combination, a toe gripper, sidegrippers, and means for'actuating'the grippers to put drawn toewardly'byincreased pull of the an upper under tension, said machine having meansfor permitting the operator to relax the tension on the upper held bythe side grippers and pull forwardly the upper, including that held bythe side grippers.

43. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, a toe gripper, sidegrippers capable of forward and backward movement together in the samedirection, and means for actuating the grippers to put the upper undertension, said actuating means including handled levers arranged in suchrelation as to permit the operator to depress the side grippers andraise the toe grippers to pull the entire upper forwardly.

4A. A pullingover machine, having in combination, toe and side grippersarranged to seize and pull the upper, and coordinated means foreffecting simultaneous adjustment edgewise of the entire marginalportion of the shoe from the rear end of one side gripper around the toeto the rear end of the other side gripper while the toe gripper retainsengagement with the toe portion of the upper.

45. A pulling over machine, having in combination, toe and side grippersarranged to seize and pull the upper, and connections for moving the toegrippers and side grippers together for eflfecting adjustment of theupper longitudinally around the last.

46. A pulling over machine, having in combination, toe grippers and sidegrippers arranged for movement together in the direction of the edge ofthe upper for shifting the upper longitudinally about the last, and onemeans for so moving said grippers.

l7. A pulling over machine, having in combination, toe grippers and sidegrippers arranged for movement together in the direc tion of the edge ofthe upper for shifting the upper longitudinally about the last, andconnections between the grippers compelling such movements together butpermitting relative pulling movements.

48. A pulling over machine, having in combination, toe grippers and sidegrippers arranged for movement together in the direction of the edge ofthe upper for shifting the upper longitudinally about the last, andmeans for reguiding all of the grippers to normal position at the end ofthe operation.

4:9. A pullingover machine, having in combination, sectional grippersarranged close together in a curved series around the toe to engage acontinuous section of upper extending around the toe end of a last,means for actuating the grippers and last relatively to pull the upper,and means for relatively actuating said grippers and last rotatively toadjust the upper about the last.

50. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, a plurality ofgrippers for engaging adjacent sections of upper extending around thetoe portion of a shoe, and meahs to simultaneously move said grippers ina direction corresponding substantially with the curved edge of the shoetoe to straighten the toe cap.

51. A pulling-over machine, having in combination, a pluralilty ofgrippers for engaging adjacent sections of upper extending around thetoe and sides of a shoe, and means to simultaneously move said grippersabout a center located back of the toe end of the shoe to shift theupper for straightening the toe cap.

52. A pulling-over machine having, in combination, a plurality ofgrippers for engaging an upper at the toe end and the sides of theforepart of a last, an opposed rest serving to hold the last againstmovement While the upper is under tension, means for relativelyactuating the last and the grippers to tension the upper upwardly aboutthe forepart of the last, said toe and side grippers being mounted formovement together lengthwise of the last to tension the upper forwardlyabout the rear part of the last, and means by which the said grippersmay be so moved.

53. A. pulling-over machine, having in combination, curved gripperslocated at the corners of the toe of a last and arranged to receive asubstantially continuous section of upper extending from one side of theshoe around the toe to the other side in its normal outwardly flaredposition, and side grippers arranged to receive the upper at the sidesof the shoe in its normal outstanding position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing witnesses.

ORRELL ASHTON.

lVitnesses:

CHESTER E. ROGERS, LAURA M. Gooonnnon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

